| Sun screen device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Sun screen deviceRelated Patent Categories: Flexible Or Portable Closure, Partition, Or Panel, Roll Type, With Guides Or Fabric Edge Holders, Fabric Side Edge, Slot Or Channel Type, Fabric Receiving, With Interlock Between Fabric And GuideSun screen device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070175603, Sun screen device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to a sun screen device that is operable so as to cover and uncover a sunroof of an automobile. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] A conventional sun screen device includes a pair of slide rails, a shaft unit, a screen unit, and a guide unit. Each of the slide rails defines a rail groove therein. The shaft unit includes a pair of seat members, a shaft member, and a shaft cover. The seat members are respectively disposed proximate to the first ends of the slide rails. The shaft member has opposite shaft end portions, each of which is coupled rotatably to a respective one of the seat members. The shaft cover serves to conceal the shaft member. The screen unit includes a flexible screen body for covering a sunroof of an automobile. The screen body is wound on the shaft member of the shaft unit, and has opposite lateral ends, and a middle portion that interconnects the lateral ends of the screen body. The middle portion of the screen body has an operating end that is movable away from the shaft unit such that the screen body is unwound from the shaft member of the shaft unit to thereby cover the sunroof, and toward the shaft unit such that the screen body is wound on the shaft member of the shaft unit to thereby uncover the sunroof. The guide unit serves to guide movement of the screen body. In particular, the guide unit includes a first set of spaced apart ball-shaped sliding members that are provided along one of the lateral ends of the screen body and that are disposed slidably in the rail groove of one of the slide rails, and a second set of spaced-apart ball-shaped sliding members that are provided along the other one of the lateral ends of the screen body and that are disposed slidably in the rail groove of the other one of the slide rails. [0005] Although the conventional sun screen device can achieve its intended purpose, when the operating end of the middle portion of the screen body is moved toward the shaft unit, the ball-shaped sliding members in the first set, as well as those in the second set, overlap each other. This results in bulging at both shaft end portions of the shaft member. As such, a relatively large shaft cover is required to conceal the shaft member. Moreover, provision of the ball-shaped sliding members along the lateral ends of the screen body causes inconvenience in the manufacture of the conventional sun screen device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a sun screen device that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art. [0007] According to the present invention, a sun screen device comprises a pair of elongate slide rails, a shaft unit, and a flexible screen body. Each of the slide rails has opposite first and second ends, and defines a rail groove therein. The shaft unit includes a pair of seat members and a shaft member. Each of the seat members is disposed proximate to a respective one of the slide rails. The shaft member has opposite shaft end portions, each of which is mounted rotatably on a respective one of the seat members. The screen body is wound on the shaft member, and has opposite lateral folded end portions, each of which is received slidably in the rail groove in a respective one of the slide rails, and a middle portion that interconnects the lateral folded end portions of the screen body. Each of the lateral folded end portions of the screen body forms an acute angle with the middle portion of the screen body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: [0009] FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a sun screen device according to this invention; [0010] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic sectional view to illustrate a slide rail of the first preferred embodiment; [0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view to illustrate a state where a screen body is wound on a shaft member of the first preferred embodiment; [0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partly cutaway perspective view to illustrate a state where the screen body is unwound from the shaft member of the first preferred embodiment; [0013] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partly cutaway perspective view to illustrate a pressing member of the first preferred embodiment; and [0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded schematic view of the second preferred embodiment of a sun screen device according to this invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0015] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. [0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the first preferred embodiment of a sun screen device according to this invention is shown to include a pair of elongate first and second slide rails 4, a shaft unit 3, and a flexible screen body 5. [0017] The sun screen device is adapted to cover and uncover a sunroof of an automobile (not shown). In this embodiment, the sunroof includes a rectangular frame 2 on which the sun screen device is to be mounted. The frame 2 includes first and second frame parts 21, 22, which are opposite to each other in a first direction (X), and third and fourth frame parts 23, 24, which are opposite to each other in a second direction (Y) transverse to the first direction (X). [0018] The first and second slide rails 4 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y), and are respectively mounted on the third and fourth frame parts 23, 24 of the frame 2. Since the first and second slide rails 4 are identical in structure, only the first slide rail 4 will be described herein. [0019] With further reference to FIG. 4, the first slide rail 4 extends in the first direction (X), and includes first, second, third, and fourth rail parts 41, 42, 43, 45. [0020] The first rail part 41 of the first slide rail 4 is mounted on the third frame part 23 of the frame 2. Continue reading about Sun screen device... Full patent description for Sun screen device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sun screen device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Sun screen device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Overhead garage door Next Patent Application: Process for mixing, device therefor and use thereof Industry Class: Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Sun screen device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.58955 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
